§ Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many limited companies are known to the Companies Registry as not having filed their annual returns in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act; how many prosecutions for such offences are being launched; what steps he is taking to ensure that limited companies file their returns in time; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisOf the 643,000 companies on the register 186,000 are known to be in default to some degree in filing annual returns. During the first six weeks of 1976, 661 summonses have been served on the directors of 204 companies in default. During the whole of 1975 the figures were 2,440 and 989 respectively. In addition, 5,169 companies which failed in any way to respond to reminders were struck off the register during the first five weeks of 1976. For the year 1975 the figure was 28,000.
Companies in default are systematically pursued by a computerised process of reminder letters leading, according to circumstances, to their directors being prosecuted or the companies being struck off.